Rent vs Buy Calculator

Back-of-napkin comparison: total costs + breakeven year. Client-side only.

Inputs

Home price ($)

Down payment (%)

Mortgage rate APR (%)

Term (years)

Property tax (% of price / year)

Home insurance ($/year)

Maintenance (% of price / year)

HOA ($/month)

Closing costs (% of price, one-time)

Selling costs (% of sale price)

Home appreciation (%/year)

Rent now ($/month)

Rent inflation (%/year)

Investment return on cash (%/year)

Horizon (years to compare)

No taxes/deductions modeled. Uses a simplified opportunity-cost model: your up-front cash (down + closing) could have earned investment return.

Ready.

Rent cost grows with rent inflation.
Buy cost includes mortgage interest + taxes + insurance + HOA + maintenance + transaction costs, minus your equity at sale.
Opportunity cost adds the foregone growth of your upfront cash.
Breakeven = first year where cumulative buy cost <= cumulative rent cost.